The Patriots made two picks early in the fourth round Saturday afternoon, selecting Texas A&M offensive guard Layden Robinson 103rd overall and Central Florida wide receiver Javon Baker 110th overall.
Dan Orlovsky is a big fan of Drake Maye
Those selections made it five straight offensive selections for New England to begin the 2024 NFL Draft, as de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and company are clearly making an effort to improve that side of the ball around new franchise quarterback Drake Maye.
Here’s a look at both players:
Layden Robinson
Robinson was New England’s second straight offensive line pick, as they also took tackle Caedan Wallace out of Penn State in the third round, 68th overall, on Friday.
Robinson measures 6-foot-3, 302 pounds. He was a three-year starter at right guard for the Aggies who allowed just one sack last season, but, as noted by ESPN’s Mike Reiss, also took the third-most penalties among SEC interior linemen. Robinson is strong, aggressive and physical, especially in the run game, but scouts have concerns about his athleticism and mobility, which could be an issue on wide run plays.
Robinson is the fourth interior lineman the Patriots have selected on Day 2 of the draft in the last two years, as they also took Jake Andrews, Sidy Sow and Atonio Mafi last year. Taking Robinson could suggest that the new regime isn’t sold on the team’s current depth on the interior. There remain questions about the long-term outlook for 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange at left guard as well.
Robinson and Wallace both played almost exclusively on the right side in college, which is also where Michael Onwenu – signed to a three-year extension in March – plays. Wolf said Friday night that they believe Wallace can play left tackle, suggesting that the plan is to try him there while keeping Onwenu at right tackle. Adding Robinson on Saturday only seems to reinforce that being the plan.
Javon Baker
The Patriots also doubled down on receiver, taking Baker 110th overall after also drafting Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round, 37th overall, on Friday.
Baker, who measures 6-foot-1, 202 pounds, caught 52 passes for 1,139 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He began his college career at Alabama, but was stuck behind the likes of Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, Jameson Williams and John Metchie before transferring to UCF in 2022.
Baker lacks elite speed and scouts question his consistency, but he is considered an instinctive route-runner with great hands who can make contested and acrobatic catches. Baker made the All-Big 12 First Team in 2023.
Baker and Polk join a crowded wide receiver room in New England that also incudes Demario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, K.J. Osborn, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte. Obviously, the Patriots will hope both rookies can force their way up the depth chart and become weapons that Maye can grow with.
Baker is clearly extremely confident in himself, too, as evidenced by his first comments to the New England media on Saturday.
“Come to the home stadium and bring your popcorn,” Baker said. “That’s all I can tell you all. Bring your popcorn. I make people in wheelchairs stand up.”